Oil cooler and heat exchanger



June 30, 1942. A, B ARNOLD 2,288,061

OIL COOLER AND HEAT EXGHANGER Filed oct. 2s, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 www" I a@ A, B ARNQLD OIL COOLER AND .HEAT EXCHANGER 5 sheets-sheer 2 Filed OCT.. 28, 1940 lllllllllilllllnllllr! June 30, 1942.A A. B. ARNoLD OIL COOLER AND HEAT YEXCI'LIJXGER Y Filed oct. v28, 19510 s sheets-sheet s various dip, brazing, copperbrazing ina hydrogen at' Patented June 30, 1942 2,288,051 l on. cocina ANnnEAr nxcHANGcn f Arthur B. Arnold. Racine, Wis.,

dine Manufacturing Company, corporation of Wisconsin Application October Z8, 1940', Serial No. 363,081

asslsinor to Mo- Raclne, Wis., a

4 Claims. (Cl. 25W-4&5)-

The invention relates generally to heat exchange devices, and more particularly to a device for providing for tween two fluids.` In general `it relates to a device for cooling a iluid by means of a cooler iluid or vice versa. The device is particularly adapted for cooling oils, although it should be understood that heat may be lexchanged between any two fluids whether oil, water, air, brine or gases,

itbeing intended that by specifying iluids I wish to be understood as including any iiuid whether 1iquid,.gas orthe like, the exchange is between or totally dissimilar fluids.

The .invention has among its objects the production of a device of the kind described which.V

is simple, inexpensive, compact, eillcientand readily cleanable.

The invention has as a further object the production of a core or heat exchanger proper ,that may befabricated of suitable materials,

vassembled in such a way that all joints may be made by some method that metallically bonds parts together, such as dipping in solder,

mosphereiurnace, or any similar method.

A further object is the construction of a device so designed that extremely light weight material can beused to construct a heat exchanger core that will withstand pressure of several hun` dred pounds ormore per square inch. While the unit as illustrated light weight materials, it is extremely rigid and capable of sustaining `high internal pressures since the plates being bent, arched or corrugated in transverse directions or on intercepting lines and bonded together, reeniorce and stiien one another. y n Q Among other objects and advantages oi the design are high capacity in a limited space, economy of material used, and economy in manufacturing, also the production of a device in which all the plates used in the core may be identical.

A further object of the inventionis the production of a device so designed that the :fluids flowing through the unit are divided into e'xtremely thin sheets, and in addition are caused to flow lin a turbulent manner such as will result in a maximum rate of heat transfer.

A further object is the construction of a device of the kind described in which a unit or core arranged within a housing may be readily removed from the housing for cleaning and which can be and regardless of whether the same kind oi fluids n is constructedof thin and the exchangeof heat beable, a greater material, and at the same time permitting a vis-- ualinspection to determine whenthe element` is completely clean.

A further object is are employed lin such manner that both sides o! the plates are active heat transfer surfaces.

The advantages in general of this unit over.l

any rother heat exchange now onthe market known to me', are greater eiciency,100% clean-- capacityfor a givenweight and. bulk, and a lower frictional resistance to fluid.

flow through the unit.

Many other objects'and advantages ":oftithe' construction herein shown `will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. y

To this end, my construction, arrangement and'combination oi' parts herein shown and described, and more par ticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like eference acters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a view in velevation of theunit lions--v ing with a portion broken away to show the contained unit; f y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken substantially on'the line 2-2 of Fig. lj;--

Fig. 3 is a perspective viewof the unit removed from they housing;` v

Fig. 4` is a lsectional view ofthe unit taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and Fig, 3;

Fig. 5 is va similar view of a portion of the unit taken substantially von line 5-5 of Fig; 2 and Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional` vewtaken-substantially Y on line 46--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 'I isa perspective view of a portion of the unit with a portion broken away to more clearly show the construction and to better illustrate the method oi plate assembly;

Fig. 8 `is a perspective view platesfprior to assembly; p

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of a plate with a portion of another plate which are shown in assembled relation; andV Fig. l0 is a perspective frame inwhich the assembly is arranged.

The invention essentially resides in a cooling unit which is preferably arranged in a housing i whichv may be connected to suitably supply vand discharge pipes carrying the fluids between which the exchange of he'at is desired. The unit or core is constructed of a plurality oi plates which may completely freed of any sediment'or foreign lili` be iormed in any suitable .mannen thin sheetl the "production of,V a core v or unit in a heat exchange device in which plates invention ccnsists'inthe novel ofw two of the.rv

view of aportion of the tion to the flow in the adjacent passages. In

the case of fluids flowing throughA the core, one fluid flows in one direction and the other uld in a transverse direction thereto, the plates being so constructed that there is considerable turbulence in the fluids. l

Referring first to Fig. 8, Il represents a thin sheet metal plate in the form of. al stamping,

` corrugated between the ends Il so as to provide at each side a series of alternate ridges H and grooves I2.v Obviously, in such Aa stamping the ridges on one side forml the grooveson the opposlte side of the plate. The ridges provide spacers when the plates are assembledtogether.

At the sides of the plate, flanges il are provided of the desired width, and these arecorrugated to form the ridges and grooves Il' and I2',` respectively. v

Fig. 3. As illustrated in this ligure. they are arranged in a frame consisting of the parts 2l and 22 connected together to form avunitary structure by the rods 25 or equivalent means (see Fig. 10).` The members 2| are notched to correspond with the corrugations. It will be obvious. for example, by referring to Figs. 8 and 10 (assuming the parts are of the same relative proportions) that if plate A is seated 'in the frame the corrugations at the end Il of the plate will fit in the notches 2l, the flange portions lI4 seating on V*the frame portions 22. When the next plate B n, bonds the plates together where the ribs Il' of` It will be noted byreferenceto Figs. 8` and 9 that the plate is o'set slightly as ir'idlcatedat vI5 so that the corrugations `in the `flanges are offset slightlyfromthe ridges H on the facevof the plate. This is clearly shown in Fig. 9; The flanges at each side of the plate are also .cut back asl indicated at Il so that there is a cutout portion-at each cornerofthe plate at the juncture of the end and the adjacent side, the purpose of which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

For convenience in describing the assembly in .-the`plates, as is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '1.4 'I'here is thus formed the two non-communicating series of passageways through the core, sealed from each other, `one extending in one directionv 'andthe other rseries extending transversely'therepassages extends' Fig. 8,v the plate `just described -is designated as A, and in this figure isA shown another plate B..

The plate B isl identical with theplateA except that it is rotated in the general plane thereof through an angle of ninety degrees, so that the corrugations il and I 2 on flanges I l on plate A when the plates are brought together will mesh with the corrugations II-I2 on plate B. The portions I I on the back side of A (refer to Fig. 8) Will contact the similar Vportions Il on the plate B at the meeting faces (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6). When a plurality of plates areassembled together, with alternate plates being lrotated as described, ythere are formed two different series of passageways through-the unit, to-wit. a series of passages, for illustration, extending'inone direction through the. core, and a plurality of independent and disconnected passages extending through the core transversely to the first passages and not communicating therewith, each of the` different series of passages being separated by a shown broken away in order to show the internal construction. A fluid passing downwardly from the top would flow down through the channels is applied and is turned ninety degrees. as shown in Fig. 8, and this plate seated in the frame, the flange portion .Il will seat on the top of 22 and the flange portion I4 will engage `on the inside of 22. The assembly is thus continued across to the other side of the frame. When-the plates are thus 'assembled'in a unit the plates may be metallically bonded together in any suitable manner, dip brazing, copper brazing in a hydrogen 'at-I mosphere furnace Ior yin any similar'manner. This seals or bonds the plates together at their meeting ,ends and edges and in-additlon also one plate cross and contact with the transversely extending -ribs l I of the adjacent plate and space to. A portion of each of the straight through, and when the core is held to the light an unobstructed view is obtained through the same. 'The view through part ofthe passage, however, is obstructed bythe corrugations ofthe adjacent plate. When the core is looked through in a. transverse dlrectionvthe same appears there,v I and the ribs on the adjacent plate appear. In 4 other words, one side of the passage has a straight wall, while thel other side has a zig-zag wall so that a turbulance yis secured in the fluid passing through the core. By the arrangement of the plates with the corrugated flanges as described, ,all of the edges of all `of the plates are bonded together and the plates bonded-internally of the core, and with the exception of the two lsingle thickness of plate. This is probably best indicated at C, while the fluid passing through Y from the sides would pass through channels or passageways marked P. This figure very clearly shows how thecorrugated flanges at the side of one plate nest with the corrugations at the kend oflanpadjacent` plate to separate thepassages C and P.

l The several plates` are assembled together as described to form a unit as shown in outside plates, each one is stiflened on both sides by` .the next adjacentA jplate. exceptionally strong and rigid core or unit is consequently produced, which permits the ,useof the thin sheet metal plate stampings for cores subject to'high pressures.' .l

The housing may be of any suitable size and shape,.the unit and housing being. of course, designed for proper assembly, -andlobviously the size of the core and housing dependsupon the capacity which is required.` In `the drawings ln Figs. 1 and 2 therejis shown a, housingfor containing the'unit` in which the -corrugations of the respective plates extend at right angles to each other. Referring first toFig. 2, r3| represents the body of a housing member provided with walls or closures 3 2 and 33.' The housingv and closures are secured together by' studs '34 or equivalent means, gaskets 35 being preferably arranged as shown. The housing is shown provided with ports 36 and 3 1. either one of which may v'be the .inlet and the other the outlet, and the closures 32 and 33 are'also provided with ports 38 and 39, either one Vof which maybe the inlet or outlet. As shown in Fig. 2, 36 is indicated as one inlet and 38'another inlet. In this such as dippingyin solder,

figure a portion of the unit is shown in elevation substantially as seen at the left hand side of Fig. 3, while thev right hand portion is shown partially in section and partially broken away.

It will be noted that the housing 3| and the CII of passages between the plates and transversely i to the flow of the other fluid, and thence may flow out through the chamber 42 and outlet 39.

Obviously, the heat exchange device may be connected up in a system in any desired manner and be arranged to carry any desired fluids. 'Ihe fluids may be oil, water, brine, air or any other gases, liquids or the like, where an exchange of heat between one fluid and another is desired.

' It is immaterial whether the exchange is between the same kind of fluids or totally dissimilar fluids. It is obvious that the device may be constructed in any suitable size, and it may be mentioned that the depth of the varied, and likewise the thickness of the metal. In some instances it may be preferred to make the plates in some other manner than stamping. It may also be noted that the particular metal employed will depend upon the particular fluids to be handled. Some fluids or gases which may be corrosive may require a special material. Stampings are ordinarily preferred for the plates as there is economy in manufacture, economy of material used and also a high capacity in a limited space. Since the adjacent plates reenforce or stiffen each other, light weight material may be used. `The fluids flowing through the unit are divided into extremely thin sheets as contrasted with general types of such units and are caused to flow in a turbulent manner, resulting in a maximum rate of heat transfer. It willalso be particularly noted that the core may be readily removed from the housing, given a visual inspection, be thoroughly cleaned and freed of any sediment or foreign material, and then again visually inspected to determine when it is com# pletely clean.

It should also be noted that both sides of the plates are active heat transfer surfaces.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1` A plate, for core units of the kind described,

corrugations may be formed with parallel corrugations on opposite faces longitudinally extending entirely across the same between two opposite edges and with a flange on each of the remaining edges extending parallel to said corrugations, each of said flanges being provided with similar corrugations extending to the edge of the plate and` at an angle to the corrugations on the faces of the body of the plate, the corrugations, on one side of said plate, of one flange being in unobstructed alignment with the respective corrugations of the other flange.

2. In a heat exchange unit of the kind described, a core nit consisting of a plurality of formed plates providedV with alternate parallel grooves and ridges on each face 'longitudinally extending entirely across the same between two opposite edges and with an offset flange on each of the remaining edges, each of said flanges being provided with grooves and ridges extending transversely to the grooves and ridges in the faces of the plates, thejlatter being assembled together with the ridges on adjacent plates extending transversely to each other and with the ridges on the flanges on each one seated in the grooves on the faces of the adjacent plates at the ends` of the grooves, said plates being bonded to each other at the edges and at the intersections of the ridges.

3. In a device'of the kind described, a core unit comprising a plurality of thin metal plates, each of said plates being formed with parallel corrugations on its faces extending entirely across the same between twoopposite edges and` with a ange on each of the remaining edges,

each of said flanges being offset from the faces of the body of the plate and provided with parallel corrugations extending at an angle to and corresponding in configuration with the corrugations on the faces of the body of the plate,"

the flange corrugations on one side of saidplate being positioned at the outer side of a plane contacting the ridges of the body corrugations on the same side of the plate.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a plurality of substantially square, similar plates, each of the latter having oppositely disposed offset portions adjacent a pair of edges, said plates being corrugated interme diate said offset portions and stacked in assembled relation with alternate plates similarly positioned and with the offset portions of the respective plates positioned at the edges of thel intermediate corrugated portion of an adjacent plate, and means for bonding said plates to one another throughout `their contacting portions a when in assembled relationship, said offset por'- tions being provided with corrugations similar to and engageable with the intermediate corrugations of an adjacent plate, operative to form a series of passages extending transversely to'and sealed from one another. y

l ARTHUR B. ARNOLD. 

